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Friday, June 03, 2005

Demolishing Dumb Arguments

The religious right subscribes to many fantasies, the divinity of Jesus being only the most famous of their illusions. One of the more pernicous works of their imagination, however, is their idea that morality is on the decline.

Overall, 77 percent of Americans think the country's moral values are on the decline -- a figure that has risen 10 points in three years.

Oh really? Let's look at a chart, (a chart I'd be glad to publish as a proper table if one of the HTML shamans in the audience would reveal the correct formula. (Update: Thanks Mr. You Know Who!))

Moral Shortcomings in 2005

Moral Shortcomings in 1875

Some women wear skimpy clothing.

Prostitution, including child prostitution, is rampant in large cities.

The abortion rate is about 20 percent (though it's not clear when in the pregnancy the majority of these abortions were performed. As discussed earlier, many Jewish jurists do not consider early abortions to be murder, the definition of "early" being the subject of much scholarly debate)

Poverty, and general public indifference, create all sorts of health crisis, including very high infant and early childhood mortality rates.

Some kids belong to gangs, and dabble in drugs.

Due to general public indifference, children, especially in large cities, often work 10-15 hour days in poorly lit factories; meny children never finish school. Also there's no minumiun wage, no maximum work-week, and no saftey regulations to protect workers - adults or children.

Adultry rates are up.

Due to general public indifference, most people live in very dangerous enviroments, among sewage, bugs, rodents and disease, in poorly lit, poorly ventilated fire-traps.Doctors are too expensive for most people, basic health services are widely unavailable.

Slavery, though not nearly as widespread as it was at the begining of the 19th century, is still prevalent. Pogroms and blood libels are common, and the movement of Jews in most of eastern Europe is still drastically limited. In the American South, Jim Crow is alive and well. Lynchings are common.

If you choose to purchase certain appliances, you can easily access lechery in the privacy of your home

If you choose to purchase certain books, you can easily bring lechery into the privacy of your own home

The death penalty is applied unfairly.

The death penalty is widespread and applied unfairly.

If we were so much more moral in the good old days, answer me this: Where was the goodness or correctness of character that might have prevented or mitigated such widespread suffering? Why were prostitution and slavery widely tolerated? Why was injustice, (especially toward blacks and Jews) so menacingly rife?

If it relates to Jews, Judaism, holidays, Midrash,Torah, halacha or anything similar, I probably have a post on it. And if I have a post on it, I probably have a good comment thread with great reader-provided information, too.

Try a search and see for yourself. If you can't find what you're looking for ask me.

Quotes

רֹאשׁ דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת קוֹרֵא מֵרֹאשׁ דּוֹר וָדוֹר עַם דּוֹרֶשְׁךָ דְּרֹשׁ
Your chief word is "truth"; You've called it out since the beginning. In each generation people interpret You [for themselves] and find [their own] meaning.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd. -Flannery O'Connor

“When in the afterglow of religious insight I can see a way that is good for all humans as it is for me—I will know it is His way.” - R. Abraham Joshua Heschel

I don't accept at all the quite popular argument that the press is responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. The monarchy's responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. To blame the press is the old thing of blaming the messenger for the message. -Anthony Holden

Said behind my back

"...he's trying to show that there are other facets to Orthodox Judaism. That we don't all think one way and vote one way. And he's occasionally entertaining when he's not being mean-spirited" [PsychoToddler]"

"He's witty. He's funny. He appreciates the ridiculous in life, and has no qualms about telling you when he thinks that you're being a moron" [Cara]

" I'm pretty sure [DovBear] is a really great guy who just wants to be able to ask questions and talk about things without the fear of someone claiming he's off the derech or on his way there." [Chaviva]